Dana White on Conor McGregor’s 2023 Return to UFC: "Who Cares What USADA Says?"

UFC President Dana White hasn't closed the door on the chances of the Conor McGregor fighting this year.

Drew Beaupré | Jul 7, 2023

Dana White on Conor McGregor’s 2023 Return to UFC: "Who Cares What USADA Says?" /

UFC President Dana White says that Conor McGregor could still return to the UFC this year, regardless of the fact that he’s already missed the required deadline to reenter USADA’s drug testing pool.

Fans have been eagerly anticipating the Irishman’s return for the first time since UFC 264, where McGregor suffered a broken ankle in his trilogy fight with Dustin Poirier.

“The Notorious” has been front and center in UFC promotional material as of late as he and Michael Chandler serve as coaches on the currently airing Season 31 of The Ultimate Fighter, however no progress has been made on actually getting a fight between the two men scheduled.

McGregor has been absent from the USADA testing pool while recovering from his leg injury, and given that UFC fighters are required to undergo testing for at least six months prior to competing it seemed as if the door had closed on his chances of fighting at a major PPV this year.

Conor McGregor holds his broken leg at UFC 264. — It's been two years since fans saw McGregor compete in the UFC :: (Gary A. Vasquez/USA TODAY Sports)

When reporter Aaron Bronsteter brought that up to White during UFC 290 fight week, the UFC President indicated that he was optimistic about the former two-division champion fighting in 2023 despite USADA's six-month testing requirements.

Dana White provides an update on McGregor vs. Chandler.

McGregor is still yet to re-enter the USADA pool, but is still holding out hope that the fight happens this year. pic.twitter.com/UEVugjEN9H
— Aaron Bronsteter (@aaronbronsteter) July 6, 2023

“We’ll see how that plays out,” White said. “[USADA are] saying that now. But we don’t – who knows. I don’t talk about s*** until s*** happens, you know what I mean? To sit here and think hypothetically how a million different things could happen – no idea…The Conor thing, who the hell knows how that’s gonna play out. Who cares what USADA says? We’ll see what happens when it happens.”

Chandler appears willing to wait for the McGregor fight even though a timeframe for it being booked is unclear, and “Iron” has already seen his team go a perfect 6-0 over the Irishman’s group of prospects through the first six episodes of their season of TUF.

Potentially granting “The Notorious” any sort of exception in terms of USADA’s testing requirements would likely draw the ire of other athletes on the UFC roster and undermine the entire effort to drug test the promotion’s fighters, but nothing can be counted out when it comes to the biggest star in UFC history.

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Published Jul 7, 2023